story: CHAPTER V--CLIPSTONE FRIENDS 
  
  
  
  "What idle progeny succeed To chase the rolling circle's speed, Or urge the flying ball."--GRAY. 
  
  The afternoon at Clipstone was a success. Gillian was at home, and every one found congeners. Lady Merrifield's sister, Miss Mohun, pounced upon Miss Prescott as a coadjutor in the alphabet of good works needed in the neglected district of Arnscombe, where Mr. Earl was wifeless, and the farm ladies heedless; but they were interrupted by Mysie running up to claim Miss Prescott for a game at croquet. "Uncle Redgie was so glad to see the hoops come into fashion again," and Vera and Paula hardly knew the game, they had always played at lawn tennis; but they were delighted to learn, for Uncle Redgie proved to be a very fine-looking retired General, and there was a lad besides, grown to manly height; and one boy, at home for Easter, who, caring not for croquet, went with Primrose to exhibit to Thekla the tame menagerie, where a mungoose, called of course Raki raki, was the last acquisition. She was also shown the kittens of the beloved Begum, and presented with Phoebus, a tabby with a wise face and a head marked like a Greek lyre, to be transplanted to the Goyle in due time. 
  
  "If Sister will let me have it," said Thekla. 
  
  "Of course she will," said Primrose. "Mysie says she is so jolly." 
  
  "Dear me! all the girls at our school said she was a regular Old Maid." 
  
  "What shocking bad form!" exclaimed Primrose. "Just like cads of girls," muttered Fergus, unheard; for Thekla continued--"Why, they said she must be our maiden aunt, instead of our sister." 
questions: Who is Lady Merrifield's sibling?
questions: What place needs some attention?
questions: Who want's to take Miss Prescott from the conversation?
questions: To do what?
questions: Is Mr. Earl married?
questions: What are the farm ladies like?
questions: Who was happy to see the hoops?
questions: Did Vera and Paula know how to play?
questions: How did they feel about learning?
questions: What were they used to playing?
questions: Is there a lot of animals?
questions: What was the last one the got?
questions: Did it have a name?
questions: What?
questions: Who had given birth?
questions: to what?
questions: Who is showing off the animals?
questions: To who?
questions: What does Thekla want to keep?
questions: What is that?
answers: Miss Mohun
answers: Lady Merrifield's sister, Miss Mohun
answers: Arnscombe
answers: neglected district of Arnscombe
answers: Mysie
answers:  interrupted by Mysie running up to claim Miss Prescott
answers: game of croquet
answers: claim Miss Prescott for a game at croquet.
answers: no
answers: Mr. Earl was wifeless
answers: heedless
answers: farm ladies heedless
answers: Uncle Redgie
answers: Uncle Redgie was so glad to see the hoops
answers: no
answers: Vera and Paula hardly knew the game
answers: delighted
answers: they were delighted to learn
answers: lawn tennis
answers: they had always played at lawn tennis
answers: yes
answers: exhibit to Thekla the tame menagerie,
answers: a mungoose
answers: a mungoose, called of course Raki raki, was the last acquisition
answers: yes
answers: mungoose, called of course Raki raki
answers: Raki raki
answers: mungoose, called of course Raki raki,
answers: Begum
answers: kittens of the beloved Begum
answers: kittens
answers: kittens of the beloved Begum
answers: a boy
answers: one boy, at home for Easter
answers: Thekla
answers:  to Thekla the tame menagerie
answers: Phoebus
answers: Phoebus, a tabby
answers: a tabby
answers: Phoebus, a tabby